It’s this time of the year again when suddenly everything is about the upcoming merry holiday. However, the constant talk of Xmas plans and the stress of finding the right gifts for the loved ones can potentially drive many people mad. Don’t you sometimes feel like disappearing (read: taking the next flight to Vegas & grinding the heck out of Jul) when you get asked one more time, “What are you plans for Christmas?” But let’s try and remain positive despite the holiday tensions. So, here are 5 reasons why the holy time is good for poker players.

1. Home Games

Home games can be so much fun and now’s the time to play. Most people are on holiday and don’t mind drinking and grinding till the early morning. You don’t have to play hardcore – get the kids involved (skip the drinking part till the kids go to bed) and play for peanuts or pennies. It is all about that fun quality time you can spend with your family and friends, playing your favorite poker variations.

2. Convert People to Poker

The holiday spirit and the lack of obligations due to reduced workload makes people more open to trying out new things. Friends and family, beware, there’s a sneaky fish who will try to convert all of you into “poker junkies”! Leisure time with food and drinks creates a good atmosphere for private poker lessons. Use it and teach your loved ones to play. Even better, be generous and teach them some Sviten Special. They’ll thank you later.

3. Taking a Break from Poker

Sometimes, you simply need a break from the activity you love in order to return stronger and with fresh ideas. Being a poker pro or an aficionado, you tend to spend a lot of time with the beloved game, either online or in casinos. Xmas is the time to take the pressure off and concentrate on other important aspects of life, such as family and friends. “I do care about Christmas but mainly because everyone else is on vacation, so I can hang around with my loved ones. Because I’m always on vacation,” says the Finnish comedian, poker lover and the Cash Game Festival’s regular Veli-Matti Puumala half-jokingly when asked about Xmas and poker. Joking aside, he loves the winter holiday because people have more time for each other.

4. Or Grinding

Xmas is the best time for grinding in case you have not been able find enough on-the-felt-time during the year. All off the felt obligations (career, family life etc.) tend to suck up most of your time, so you simply cannot wait for a the week off from work to pull those fun and profitable all-nighters. “In my active days, Xmas was definitely the time for a long grind; always a good time of the year to be on the hard grind!”, says NordicBet’sJostein Grødum excitedly. So, set you priorities and get grinding while the Santa is hard at work.

5. Cool Poker Gifts

If you have been nice, not naughty, Xmas is the best time for receiving those poker goodies you have been dreaming of. Fancy a new pair of lucky socks or a comfy hoodie to keep you nice and warm? What about a pair of noise-blocking headphones or a brand-new gaming chair for the long hours of online cash games? Now is the time to make your wishes heard and write a letter to Santa. Moreover, for the lucky ones, considerate family members may have an awesome poker gift in store. Just wait for the holidays and you may get pleasantly surprised. Nothing wrong about buying a gift for yourself either. You know the best what you need, so head to the mall for that guilt-free Xmas shopping spree. You totally deserve it!

So, simply forget the holiday stress and enjoy the time of the year to the max. Xmas is as good as you make it to be. Choose to see the positive over negative and you will have the best time of your life.

In the meanwhile, don’t forget that in 2018, we start our cash game season already in the beginning of January. Push that orange REGISTER NOW button on our opening page if you want to play good poker in London on Jan 3rd-7th.